By Jillian Broaddus and Chuck Cusumano
You’ve probably heard the old adage that we spend the majority of our lives working. Or, that we spend more time with our coworkers than we do with our friends or family.
Even through the transition to work-from-home jobs, the idea steadfastly holds true: our careers are omnipresent in influencing all aspects of our lives – including our health!
Think about it: On the extremes, our work environments may physically expose us to health risks. Your income is also directly tied to where you live, how you live, and – oftentimes – the amount you spend on healthcare, food, and exercise. Furthermore, employment is closely connected to our senses of purpose. Work days often are a primary contributing factor to our levels of stress. Work hours – and the aforementioned stress – can be the reason behind a subpar sleep cycle. Our relationships at work can either foster social connections or contribute to enhanced feelings of isolation. Add in toxic management, workplace inequities, and long hours – all rampant symptoms plaguing the 2023 workforce – and one simple sentiment is irrefutable:
Our jobs influence our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
As a leader – or even an individual contributor – at your organization, here are three things to consider to keep health at the forefront to ensure your company helps – not hinders – your employees:
Start with the basics: Similar to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we need to begin with the basics. Workers need livable wages, adequate time off, parental leave, and a management that ensures employees’ health comes first. This means honest conversations about workplace biases and issues that may be damaging wellbeing.
Create a committee: Do your employees have a way to speak to management when it comes to their health and what could be done to alleviate any issues? If not, consider keeping a pulse on the organization through a special committee designed specifically to monitor employee health. This can be accomplished through anonymous surveys, forums, small-form discussion groups, or one-on-one conversations.
Volunteer often: It’s proven science that giving back has a positive effect on physical and emotional well-being – and positive ramifications for your community. Organize a volunteering event for your team after getting their input on what causes mean the most to the majority. Schedule a volunteer opportunity (on a day normally reserved for work) quarterly!
Take it outside: If you're still performing the majority of your 9-to-5 duties in-office, under fluorescent lights and blasting air conditioners, you may be in need of a field trip. We as humans need fresh air, natural sunlight, and frequent breaks throughout the day to stay cognitively and emotionally well. So, take your next meeting, lunch break, or coffee chat outside your office doors!
Taking a holistic view of your employees as people whose health matters will pay off in the short and the long run. In fact, a study from the Integrated Benefit Institute estimated that poor worker health costs U.S. employers $575 billion a year, and according to the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, only 50% of Americans report being in good health.
Be the start of a healthy workforce and world, and let us know how we can help your initiatives by emailing hello@thejoshuagroupconsulting.com.